here to weigh in senior fellow defense studdies lt. colonel tony shaffer. set up for the audience who is bashar assad? >> bashar assad is the former president of the syria took over in 1971. and ruled frank whether i an iron fist assad took over in. there was hope that there would be reforms and much like other dictators who come in. it's double down and continue the same policies and trends as his former -- the person he replaced. we saw this in north korea and we are seeing it again. >> talk about the latest news. there are reports that assad has weapons of mass destruction. potentially saran and mustard gas. your thoughts, we use them? is he capable of using them? >> absolutely capable. and military well trained in them. let's be very clear here. the russians have done a good job of training and equipping the syrian military. that's very important. the russians have helped do this. russian supplied material. with that said, the question becomes will he use it? does he have the will? >> absolutely. but i would argue only if his back is against the wall. t